Kierra's Chickenpox Vaccination

Kierra just had her chickenpox vaccination. It isn't compulsory, but Kieona had taken it and we had put it off for the longest time so we let her go for her vaccination last Wednesday. Mommy picked both girls up without the helper and went along and did everything just as if there wasn't a helper around. It was a very short trip and pleasant one at that.

The lady doctor Dr Cheah wasn't around, so Dr Chuah did it for Kierra. Mommy actually asked that Dr Chuah keep out of the way of her legs, since she cried and kicked during the last jab. Guess what? She giggled through it. She just went "ouch, ouch!" and then it was over in a flash. She smiled and told me how brave she was.... and at the end of the day, she was rewarded with an ice-cream treat for making things so easy for everyone.

Kieona said, "Mei Mei is so brave, like Jie Jie. Never cry right?" Hmm.... :)

Kierra's Portfolio Shot 2

We just had these portfolio pictures delivered. It was taken end of May. Like the flowers & hand crocheted hat? Check out with Baby Slings & Carriers.

Kierra's First Drawing

We returned home last week after a day at the shop and was greeted by the usual, "Mommy, this drawing is for you," from both Kieona and Kierra. Usually Kierra's drawing will be some scribbling but this time she showed me a cat. Mommy thought it was drawn by Kieona as Kieona is very good at drawing characters. Kierra told me she drew it and I asked Kieona, just to be sure. And she said Kierra did draw the cat below:My Kierra has grown up! :)

Kierra's 1st Portfolio Shoot

Not to be outdone, Kierra had asked for a modelling portfolio too. Give her a break though, this is her first exposure....

Teeth at Grand Old Age of Three

Dear Kierra has always been very late where teeth is concerned. Her first teeth sprouted at around 10 months and now at the grand old age of three, is sprouting her last set of molars. Wow, mighty late.

The cons of it? Her slow eating - as she uses her front teeth for chewing and sometimes it can take a looong while..... apart from that, no major worry. The only consolation? I've been told that later bloomers (in the department of teeth sprouting) will mean that the child will start having decays later.

Kierra using her front teeth as usual

Not sure if it's true. Kieona has been having a lot of cavities (she started sprouting at 6 months and finished by around 2 years old) and we've spent quite a lot on dentistry for her. Would not have mattered much to Mommy that much if she had not kept insisting on keeping her looks in pristine condition for any shot at modelling.

What to do? No choice lah....

Kierra's First Dental Visit

We had a terrific time last Friday 18 July. Lucky thing Mommy remembered that there was a school holiday in July and had already made plans for Kieona and Kierra that day. What better way to spend that day than to have Kierra go for her first dental visit? Thanks to Auntie Ellen's suggestion, Mommy booked a dental appointment for both girls in early June at the School Dental Clinic located in SGH, Health and Promotion Board Building.

As it was our first visit to there and we took public transport to expose the girls to the transport system, we got a little bit lost and unsure when we reached Outram MRT station. Thank goodness Mommy sms-ed Auntie Elizabeth, who called back and told us to walk there instead of waiting for the shuttle bus (which we were waiting for at least for half an hour but still have not boarded one). It was such a short walk Mommy felt stupid for waiting, as Eugene burst out crying when we stood in the queue for too long, and even when Maria walked a little faster to catch up with us. My, what a bother!

After making a couple more detours, we finally got there 10 minutes late. Thankfully there wasn't a lot of people waiting to see the dentists. My, we were rather impressed when it was our turn. Although Kierra refused to have her teeth polished, she was brave enough not to cry and stayed still (so won't spoil - she said later) throughout the check-up. It was a good first start for Kierra, definitely.

It was Kieona who behaved beyond Mommy's expectations though. Since it was our first visit there at the School Dental Clinic, Mommy had requested during registration to have the both Kieona and Kierra's teeth checked consecutively by the same dentist so that I can be there for them both during the checks. Since Maria was looking after Eugene, there wasn't a way Mommy could have both girls accompanied by an adult when we went in. Thank goodness although they couldn't have it done that way, Kieona and Kierra were placed in adjacent cubicles with different dentists. I asked Kieona if I could leave her and that I will be in the next cubicle with Kierra. She said yes without any hesitation. I was relieved! Best part? She was joking with the dentist all the way and the dentist found her one of the best 4 year old he had attended to, since she co-operated every step of the way and was such a joy to work with.

My Kieona has grown up. And my Kierra has definitely become braver.

Kierra's New Shoes

Now that Mommy is slowly getting over the anxieties and shock of Kieona's nostril incident, I can put together the weeks happening in subsequent posts.

Mommy has been looking around for shoes for Kierra to replace her favourite purple pair, as the soles have been worn off. Kierra said she liked Kieona's shoes and wanted to have the same design as what I had bought for her sister some time ago. As it was from Bubblegummers (a brand carried only by Bata here), Mommy has brought her to the Bata and Thomson Plaza (where Kieona bought hers) the Friday before to look for it. However, there were only the smaller sizes left and we couldn't get a pair for her. Since Kieona was staying in school on Tuesdays, I decided to take Kierra out to Ang Mo Kio Central to look for her shoes. There were two Bata shops there and Mommy hoped that at least one of them carried her size. Alas, they were all sold out! I explained to Kierra but she was visibly upset, saying why Jie-Jie has and she doesn't. She also said she just wanted the same one as Jie-Jie. My heart sank. I told Daddy that evening and requested he check out the large Bata store in Peninsula Plaza and see if he could get her size.

Kierra, opening her surprise

My shoes

The next night (which was a Wednesday), he brought home the surprise. Kierra was naturally excited and happy with her shoes. Now she has the same flower shoes as Kieona.

I love them!

Pretty in Make-Up (7 June)

Mommy can't explain why the girls are so into having their faces made-up. Although Mommy is not big on putting stuff on her face for practicality reasons, the girls have always been fascinated whenever Mommy applies cosmetics and will insist to be done up as well. After having been forced to take a nap after Isaac's full moon celebration, the girls woke up feeling fresh and ready to slap colours on their faces. Mommy obliged since there was still time to dress up for Uncle Don and Auntie Zhen's wedding at the Four Seasons Hotel. Enjoy their make-up moments....

Kieona pursing her lips to even out the lip colour

Kierra's bedraggled look while having her eyes done

We Pierced Our Ears (17 May)

Kieona had been asking about ear-piercing for a little while now. She started asking Mommy if ear-piercing was painful and whether you need to have our ears pierced to wear earrings. Mommy said yes to both questions. She also asked if I liked to wear earrings. I said not really since I do not always change earrings. Then Kieona sent me a shocker, "Mommy, if you don't like to wear earrrings, then why are you wearing them?". Innocent enough as a question and very logical. Mommy said, "Well, I wear them because I do not want the holes to close". It took a few more days of asking it it was painful and how painful it was before Kieona completely stopped asking about it.

Since Mommy is not really very keen on letting Kieona and Kierra put on earrings at such a young age (cost and hygiene concerns), Mommy thought that that was the end of the saga and tread carefully in case I accidentally trigger it again. Apparently Kieona had not forgotton about it. A few days later while on the couch watching a television program, Kieona asked again.

Kieona: Mommy, if want to wear earrings must pierce ears first right?

Mommy: Yes, darling.

Kieona: It is a little bit painful right, Mommy?

Mommy: Yes, dear.

Kieona: It is not very painful, just a little bit painful right?

Mommy: Yes, Kieona. It is just a little bit painful.

Kieona: I like to wear earrings, Mommy.

Mommy: Ok.

Kieona: I think I want to pierce my ears. Can I?

Mommy: Erm, ok. (Mommy thinks - she's finally asked.) You may pierce your ears - it is really your choice. I have explained to you that it's going to hurt a little. But we've got to go to somewhere more established, like the one Mommy went to. And you must pierce the other side once you've pierced one side. If you feel the pain, you cannot say you don't want to pierce the other side ok?

Kieona: Ok. It's only a little bit painful right, not very painful right?

Mommy: Yes. (I don't believe in telling lies about such things with my kids, even though I'm not the most eager to let them have their ears pierced.)

Mommy asked Kierra whether she wanted to have her ears pierced too. She said no for the longest time, but on the day we went to B*Dazzle in Wisma Atria, she said she wanted it too. Even though there was some hemming and hawing at the shop, we decided to just let her have a go. Knowing Kierra, she will ask for it by the time we get home when she sees Kieona has earrings, if we do not let her do it then.

Kieona, with the pink studded earrings

Kierra, proud with the pink beauty on her ears

Our First Facial Masks (15 May)

Children are creatures of imitation.....

Mommy and Daddy have started getting back on taking better care of our facial skin by using masks a little more regularly. Being the vainpots Kieona and Kierra have always been, they also started asking for it. Mommy thought - no harm, especially since I can cut holes in those small paper pads that I buy and soak them in Diamond Water before putting on their tiny faces to absorb the moisture. Mommy's pretty sure maintenance has to start early for good skin to prevail when it matters. So there, the girls had their virgin facials that day!

Kieona and Kierra's first facials

I want Breakfast....

Kierra: sob, sob...

Has Mommy ever mentioned that Kierra usually take her own sweet time with breakfast? Till today, we still can't find a very effective way to help her eat faster. Usually she looks like that at breakfast if we hurry her, or threaten to take away her breakfast. She will always say that she still wants the breakfast, even though she hardly looked like she is eating it.

Kierra's 2nd Birthday

Kierra celebrated her birthday in school on Sep 28 as Oct 1 was a school holiday. Sep 28, a Friday, also happened to be when the school had planned for a Children's Day celebration so we did a fair bit of planning to ensure she can celebrate it on that same day in school.

It was rather eventful, as the day before Prima-Deli in Ang Mo Kio where we ordered the cake called to ask if we can have it collected later. Mommy said no, because we had already told them earlier we needed to collect it at 9am so that I can make it to the school and not have their schedules for the celebration disrupted. It was a lot of hoo-ha and Daddy was clearly not pleased with the way they handled it. On the fateful morning, Mommy had to collect the cake herself and asked Grandpa to send the cake since Mommy doesn't have transport and Daddy was out for his Friday morning meetings.

When I got there, they gave a 1kg cake and I nearly flipped. Then after that they told me the cake is not delivered yet. I was about to rail at them when a supposedly superior took the cake out from another fridge. Argh! So unprofessional!

Fortunately we got the cake there without a glitch. Since we were unable to join in the celebration, I got the school teachers who helped us take some photos of Kierra's birthday party. See pictures below.

On Oct 1, Kierra's actual birthday, Daddy was kind enough to bring us out to the Sentosa Underwater World. The kids sure had lots of fun watching the huge fishes, although Kierra did fall asleep somewhere in-between. We ended the day with a small chocolate birthday cake which we got from Dino which really tasted yummy.....